California Governor Gavin Newsom has adopted an online persona that echoes President Donald Trump’s trademark all-caps missives, hyperbolic language and idiosyncratic spelling. Outlets including Politico and AFP report that the approach has vaulted the Democrat to what they describe as “algorithmic dominance,” amplifying his posts and provoking a swift partisan reaction. Supporters say the shift helps Newsom confront the former president on his own turf. Democratic strategist Anthony Coley called the exchanges “toe-to-toe” engagement, while California Congressman Eric Swalwell described the tactic as a “teaching moment” that spotlights Democratic policy arguments. Republicans have dismissed the performance. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon labeled it “vaudeville,” and Vice President JD Vance argued that Newsom overlooks what he called the “authenticity” behind Trump’s political success. In a Fox News interview, Vance contrasted the governor’s online barbs with the administration’s recent law-and-order push in Washington, D.C., claiming violent crime there has fallen 35 % and robberies 55 % in nine days. The dispute highlights how both parties are recalibrating their digital playbooks ahead of the 2026 electoral cycle, testing whether attention-grabbing rhetoric or claims of real-world results will resonate more with voters.